Automotive vehicle parking system

ABSTRACT

An automotive vehicle parking system wherein the vehicles are parked in a plurality of vertical stacks or columns between a fixed entrance station and a fixed exit station. The vehicles are stored in a plurality of vertical storage units arranged in one or more rows between the entrance and exit stations with each storage unit forming a plurality of vehicle cells arranged in a single vertical column. Each of the storage units is mounted for vertical movement independently of the other units so that any storage cell can be moved vertically to the level of the entrance or exit station, which may or may not be at the same level. A vehicle is driven from the entrance station into a cell in the first storage unit, or over the top of the first unit, and the vehicle may then be driven on through or over the succeeding units until it reaches a cell selected for the storage of that vehicle. When it is desired to retrieve the vehicle from the parking system, the storage cell in which it is parked is moved to the level of the exit station, and the vehicle is driven from the cell to the exit station, passing through or over intervening storage units if necessary.

United States Patent 1 Genest et a1.

[54] AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE PARKING SYSTEM [76] Inventors: Adrien P. Genest, 8518 Henri-Julien, Montreal 351, Quebec; Jean C. Asselin, 5579 Woodbury, Montreal 250, Quebec both of Canada [22] Filed: April 14, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 134,021

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 810,674, March 29, 1969,

2a a tr ma 1am p nn 3,717,266 51 Feb. 20, 1973 Italy ..214/l6.l EC

ltaly ..2l4/-l6.l EC

[57] ABSTRACT An automotive vehicle parking system wherein the vehicles are parked in a plurality of vertical stacks or columns between a fixed entrance station and a fixed exit station. The vehicles are stored in a plurality of vertical storage units arranged in one or more rows between the entrance and exit stations with each storage unit forming a plurality of vehicle cells arranged in a single vertical column. Each of the storage units is mounted for vertical movement independently of the other units so that any storage cell can be moved vertically to the level of the entrance or exit station, which may or may not be at the same level. A vehicle is driven from the entrance station into a cell in the first storage unit, or over the top of the first unit, and the vehicle may then be driven on through or over the succeeding units until it reaches a cell selected for the storage of that vehicle. When it is desired to retrieve the vehicle from the parking system, the storage cell in which it is parked is moved to the level of the exit station, and the vehicle is driven from the cell to the exit station, passing through or over intervening storage units if necessary.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEB 2 0 I975 SHEET 2 OF 3 Pic-1.3

"Tr W Invsuroes Aomeu G JEAN Assam AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE PARKING SYSTEM CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation of our copending application Ser. No. 810,674, filed Mar. 29, 1969, now abandoned.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to automotive vehicle parking systems and, more particularly, to an improved automotive vehicle parking system of the type which stores the parked vehicles in a plurality of vertical stacks or columns.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved automotive vehicle parking system which enables a multiplicity of vehicles to be stored in a plurality of vertical stacks without the use of any lateral transfer mechanism. In this connection, a related object of the invention is to provide such an improved automotive vehicle parking system which permits each vehicle to be driven directly to the particular cell in which it is to be parked in the complex of vertical stacks.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved automotive vehicle parking system of the foregoing type which permits rapid ingress and egress of the packed vehicles.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved automotive vehicle parking system of the type described above which can be efficiently operated and maintained over a long operating life.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such an improved automotive vehicle parking system which permits each vehicle cell in the parking system to be moved quickly to and from ground level,'or the levels at which the entrance and exit stations are located.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such an improved automotive vehicle parking system which is capable of receiving and securely storing automotive vehicles of different types and dimensions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 7

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, taken along line 1-1 in FIG. 2, of an automotive vehicle parking systeni embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation taken along line 2-2 in FIG. I; 1

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the parking system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of one of the vehicle cells in the parking system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the vertical storage units in the parking system of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged end elevation of the vertical storage unit shown in FIG. 5.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative forms, certain specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings which will be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Turning now to the drawings and referring first to FIGS. 1 through 3, there is shown an automotive vehicle parking system in which the vehicles to be parked enter the system at a fixed entrance station indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. When the parked vehicles are retrieved from the parking system, they leave the parking system at a fixed exit station indicated generally by the reference numeral 11.

In accordance with the present invention, a plurality of vertical storage units are arranged in one or more rows between the fixed entrance and exit stations with each storage unit forming a plurality of vehicle cells arranged in a single vertical column, and each of the storage units is mounted for vertical movement independently of the other units so that any vehicle cell in any storage unit can be moved vertically to the level of the entrance or exit station. Thus, in the particular parking system illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, five vertical storage units S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5 are provided in each of ten different rows R1 through R10 extending between the entrance station 10 and the exit station 11. Each of the vertical storage units Sl-S5 forms a vertical stack of ten vehicle cells, such as the cells identified as Sla through Slj invthe storage unit S1, and each storage unit is mounted for vertical movement independently of the other units in a vertical track assembly which will be described in more detail below in connection with FIGS. 4 through 6. While the illustrative system contains ten rows, each containing five storage units having 10 vehicle cells, it will be appreciated that any of these numbers may be changed to provide the dimensions and storage capacity desired in any particular installation.

When a vehicle to be parked arrives at the entrance station 10, it is either driven over the top of the first vertical storage unit S1 in one of the ten rows Rl-RIO, or it is driven into a vacant cell in the unit S1. For example, in FIG. 1, a vehicle 12 is shown entering a vacant cell Sli in the first vertical storage unit S1. The vehicle 12 may be stored in the cell Sli, in which event the vertical storage unit S1 is raised or lowered to bring another vacant cell into register with the entrance station 10, or the vehicle may be driven through the first storage unit S1 and then over, into, or through successive storage units for storage in a cell downstream of the first storage unit S1. For example, the vehicle may be driven over the top of a vertical storage unit which is in its lowermost position, such as the unit S2 shown in FIG. 1, and parked in a vacant cell of a succeeding storage unit, such as the vacant cell 83g in unit S3 in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the vehicle can be driven on through the vacant cell 83g, over the top at the unit S4 and into the vacant cell S5i in storage unit S5 in FIG. 1. Thus, it can be seen that there are several different routes that can be followed by any given vehicle, and normally there are several different alternative parking positions available to any given vehicle. However, the particular storage unit in which the vehicle is actually parked must always be moved vertically, after the vehicle is parked therein, if it is desired to maintain an open path between the entrance and exit stations.

It will beunderstood from the foregoing description that any vertical storage unit that has all ten cells filled with vehicles should normally be in its lowermost position, as in the case of units S2 and S4 in FIG. 1, so that vehicles can be driven over the tops of the filled units to gain access to vacant cells in successive storage units, such as units S3 and S in FIG. 1, or to the exit station 11. When it is desired to retrieve a vehicle from one of the filled storage units, that particular unit is raised until the cell containing the desired vehicle is at the level of the exit station 11. The desired vehicle is then driven out of its storage cell and over or through the succeeding storage units to the exit station 11. It will be apparent that whenever a vehicle is removed from a cell in any given vertical storage unit, that particular unit may then remain in that position, to permit vehicles from upstream storage units to pass therethrough, until another vehicle is parked in the vacant cell from which the previous vehicle was removed. At this point, the storage unit is either lowered to its lowermost position, or raised or lowered to bring another vacant cell in the unit to the level of the entrance station 10. Of course, if it is desired to retrieve a second vehicle from the same storage unit before another vehicle is parked in the previously vacant cell, the storage unit is moved to bring the second vehicle to the level of the exit station 11, and the previously vacant cell is filled at some later time.

Turning now more particularly to FIGS. 4-6, each of the vertical storage units Sl-SS comprises a rectangular box-like frame 50 (FIGS. 5 and 6) mounted for vertical movement in spaced vertical track assemblies 51. (While the system provided by this invention is ideally suited for underground parking systems of the type illustrated, it is to be understood that the system is equally applicable to systems constructed on or above ground level). To raise one or more of the vertical storage units, conventional drive motors (not shown) mounted in housings 54 at ground level are energized to raise the storage units via four metal cables 55. Each of the four cables 55 is secured at one endto the respective storage unit associated therewith and extends upwardly over a pulley 56 (FIG. 4) within the housing 54. The other end of the cable 55 extends downwardly along the side of the storage unit and is secured to one of a pair of counterweights 57 which ride along the opposed surfaces of the track assemblies 51. As the storage unit is raised, the counterweights 57 are lowered and, conversely, when the storage unit is lowered, the counterweights 57 are raised. As' can be seen most clearly in FIG. 4, the housings 54 which con-. tain the drive motors and the pulleys 56 for controlling the vertical movement of the storage units S are located in the spaces between adjacent rows R of the storage units, and are supported on the vertical track assemblies 51 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The counterweights 57 also ride up and down along the track assemblies 51 in these same spaces. It will be understood that the drive motors can be controlled manually by a system operator, preferably stationed at a central control console, or an automatic control system may be provided so that the vertical movement of the various storage units is controlled by signals generated by pushbuttons operated by the vehicle drivers.

Still referring to FIGS. 4-6, as the vertical storage unit S is moved vertically along the track assemblies 51, guiding rollers 60 (FIG. 4) mounted on opposite ends of each storage unit S ride on opposed surfaces of the frames 50 of adjacent storage units. More particularly,

two guiding rollers 60 are mounted on diagonally opposite corners of each storage unit S, so that when a row of storage units is assembled, a guiding roller 60 is provided at each of the four corners of the box-like rectangular frame 50. In addition to the guiding rollers 60, four sets of rollers 61 and 62 are mounted on the track assemblies 51 to cooperate with the four corners of each vertical storage unit S. Each of the four sets of rollers 61 and 62, which are oriented at right angles to each other, fit within vertical channels formed by the storage unit frame 50, so that the rollers 60, 61 ride on opposed surfaces of the channel members as the storage unit is moved vertically. Consequently, it can be seen that each storage unit is supported and guided at each of its four corners by means of the three rollers 60, 61 and 62; these rollers serve to maintain the storage unit in the desired orientation with respect to both the stationary track assemblies 51 and adjacent storage units. It is significant to note that the mounting and guiding arrangement between adjacent storage units permits each storage unit to be moved independently of adjacent storage units, and yet the storage units are positioned sufficiently close to each other that vehicles can be easily driven from a cell in one unit to an aligned cell in an adjacent unit, thereby permitting a free flow of vehicles along a predetermined path through each row of storage units S1-S5 between the fixed entrance and exit stations 10 and 11, respectively.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, each vehicle cell in the various storage units S is adapted to automatically position vehicles of different wheel base dimensions witliin the cell. More particularly, each vehicle cell includes means for camming the wheels on only one side of an entering vehicle to a predetermined transverse position within the cell so that vehicles of varying wheel base dimensions are automatically positioned within the cell. Thus, referring to FIG. 4,'the floor of each vehicle cell forms a pair of side rails and 71, and a raised central portion 72. The right-hand side of the central portion 72 extends substantially parallel to the side rails 70 and 71,.while the left-hand side of the central portion 72 gradually expands toward the left-hand rail 70 in the direction of vehicle movement. That is, the width of the central portion 72 gradually increases, beginning with a relatively narrow width at the entrance end of the cell and expanding to a maximum width at the exit end of the cell. More particularly, the width of the central portion 72 is such that the space between the left-hand side 73 of the central portion 72 and the side rail 70 at the exit end of i the cell is only slightly wider than the maximum width of a vehicle tire. Whenever a vehicle enters the cell with the wheels on the left side of the vehicle spaced away from the left side rail 70, the left front wheel'of the vehicle engages the left-hand side 73 of the central portion 72, so that the surface 73 gradually cams the vehicle to the left as the vehicle advances along the cell g the floor of the cell for receiving one of the vehicle wheels. Thus, in the illustrative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, a transverse recess 80 is formed between the raised central portion 72 and the right-hand side rail 71 so as to receive the right front wheel of an entering vehicle. When the vehicle driver feels the right front wheel drop into the recess 80, he knows that the vehicle has reached its parked position; thus, the vehicle is automatically positioned in the longitudinal direction so that there is no possibility of an over-hanging portion of the vehicle interferring with the vertical movement of the storage unit. If desired, of course, the transverse recess can be formed in another portion of the cell floor so as to receive a different vehicle wheel. However, it is important that the recess receive only the front or rear wheel or wheels of the vehicle, so that the cell is universally applicable to vehicles of different length, including different wheel base dimensions. As an alternative, two longitudinally spaced recesses may be formed in the cell floor, with the first recess being used for relatively short vehicles, such as the vehicle 81 in FIG. 5 and the second recess being used for relatively long vehicles, such as the vehicle 82 in H6. 5.

The floor of each vehicle cell in the storage units S is secured to the unit frame 50, and, in addition, a pair of reinforcing structural members 90 and 91 (see (FlG. 5)

interconnect the sides of each vertically adjacent pair of cell floors so as to provide the overall storage unit assembly with a rigid construction. Also, each storage unit is provided with an elongated base portion which is reinforced with a plurality of crossed structural members, such as the side members 92 shown in FIG. 5, so that the lowermost cell can be raised to ground level while still maintaining a sufficient length of the storage unit down between the track assemblies 51 to maintain the unit in a rigid upright position. Thus it can be seen that the elongated base portion 93 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 has a height about equal to that of two to three vehicle cells so that even when all the vehicle cells are above ground level, the elongated base portion 93 cooperates with the track assemblies 51 to stabilize the vertical storage unit, and to maintain the same in a stable vertical position.

While the invention has been described with specific reference to one particular embodiment, it will be understood that various modifications may be made in the illustrative system within the scope of the present invention. For example, the motor-driven cable drive arrangement may be replaced with hydraulically powered elevating systems for the various storage units. As another example, if the parking system is located above ground level, the base structure described for the illustrative storage units may be eliminated. Another possible modification is the substitution of automatic locking devices for the floor recesses, to position the vehicles within the various parking cells. Further variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, in the light of the teachings contained herein.

As can be seen from the foregoing detailed description, the present invention provides an improved automotive vehicle parking system which enables a multiplicity of vehicles to be stored in a plurality of vertical stacks without the use of any lateral transfer mechanism whatever. More specifically, the improved parking system provided by the invention permits each vehicle to be driven directly to the particular cell in which it is to be parked in the complex of vertical stacks. This system permits rapid ingress and egress of the parked vehicles, and can be efficiently operated and maintained over a long operating life. Furthermore, the parking system permits each vehicle cell in the system to be moved quickly to and from ground level, or to the levels in which the entrance and exit stations are located. Finally, the system is capable of receiving and securely storing automotive vehicles of different types and dimensions.

We claim as our invention:

1. An automotive vehicle parking method comprising the steps of providing a fixed entrance station, a fixed exit station, and a plurality of vertically movable storage units arranged in a plurality of rows between the entrance and exit stations with each storage unit forming a plurality of vehicle cells arranged in a single vertical column, the first storage unit in each of said rows cooperating with said entrance station to permit a vehicle to be driven from said entrance station into any cell of said first storage unit that is disposed at the level of said entrance station, the last storage unit in each of said rows cooperating with said exit station to permit a vehicle to be driven to said exit station from any cell of said last storage unit that is disposed at the level of said exit station, all the storage units in each of said rows being aligned with each other and adapted to cooperate with each other so that a vehicle may be driven between first and last storage units by passing through empty cells of intervening storage units, each of said storage units being vertically movable independently of all the other storage units, and having its own independent drive means so that all the storage units in a given row can be moved to different vertical positions at the same time, said drive means comprising at least one cable connected at one end to the bottom of the vertical storage unit and at the other end to a counterweight, said cable being trained over a pulley located in the space between adjacent rows of said storage units, below the level of said entrance and exit stations and below the top of the vertical storage unitwhen said unit is in its lowest position, and motor means for driving said pulley to control the raising and lowering of the vertical storage unit, and each of said storage units also being adapted to be lowered completely below said entrance station so that vehicles can be driven over any given'storage unit when all the cells in that unit are occupied by vehicles, driving vehicles from said entrance station into vacant cells in the first storage unit in each of said rows, periodically moving the first storage unit in each row vertically to align a selected emptycell therein with said entrance station while at the same time moving a successive storage unit in the same row vertically to align a selected cell therein with the level 1 of said entrance station for receiving a vehicle'from said entrance station, and simultaneously moving intermediate storage units between said entrance station and the selected cell to receive the vehicle so as to align selected empty cells in said intermediate storage units with said selected cell, and lowering any intermediate storage unit which has all its cells occupied by vehicles to its lowermost position below said exit station so that the vehicle may be driven over the top of such storage unit, driving a vehicle from said entrance station through said selected empty cells in said first storage unit and in said intermediate storage units, over the completely lowered storage units and into said Selected cell aligned with said empty cells while maintaining all of said selected cells in alignment with each other and with said entrance station at the same time, moving said selected cell containing the vehicle vertically to align an empty cell in that same storage unit with the level of said entrance or exit station, subsequently retrieving a selected vehicle from said storage units by moving the storage units containing the selected vehicle vertically to align the cell containing the selected vehicle with the level of the exit station, while at the same time moving intermediate storage units containing empty cells between said exit station and the cell containing the selected vehicle to be retrieved, so as to align selected empty cells in said intermediate storage units with said cell containing the selected vehicle to be retrieved, lowering any intermediate storage unit which has all its cells occupied by vehicles to its lowermost position below said entrance station so that the selected vehicle to be retrieved may be driven over the top of such storage unit, and driving the selected vehicle out of the cell in which it is stored, over the completely lowered storage units and through the selected'empty cells in said other intermediate storage units to said exit station while maintaining all of the selected empty cells in said intermediate storage units in alignment with each other and with said exit station at the same time.

It 1 II t i 

1. An automotive vehicle parking method comprising the steps of providing a fixed entrance station, a fixed exit station, and a plurality oF vertically movable storage units arranged in a plurality of rows between the entrance and exit stations with each storage unit forming a plurality of vehicle cells arranged in a single vertical column, the first storage unit in each of said rows cooperating with said entrance station to permit a vehicle to be driven from said entrance station into any cell of said first storage unit that is disposed at the level of said entrance station, the last storage unit in each of said rows cooperating with said exit station to permit a vehicle to be driven to said exit station from any cell of said last storage unit that is disposed at the level of said exit station, all the storage units in each of said rows being aligned with each other and adapted to cooperate with each other so that a vehicle may be driven between first and last storage units by passing through empty cells of intervening storage units, each of said storage units being vertically movable independently of all the other storage units, and having its own independent drive means so that all the storage units in a given row can be moved to different vertical positions at the same time, said drive means comprising at least one cable connected at one end to the bottom of the vertical storage unit and at the other end to a counterweight, said cable being trained over a pulley located in the space between adjacent rows of said storage units, below the level of said entrance and exit stations and below the top of the vertical storage unit when said unit is in its lowest position, and motor means for driving said pulley to control the raising and lowering of the vertical storage unit, and each of said storage units also being adapted to be lowered completely below said entrance station so that vehicles can be driven over any given storage unit when all the cells in that unit are occupied by vehicles, driving vehicles from said entrance station into vacant cells in the first storage unit in each of said rows, periodically moving the first storage unit in each row vertically to align a selected empty cell therein with said entrance station while at the same time moving a successive storage unit in the same row vertically to align a selected cell therein with the level of said entrance station for receiving a vehicle from said entrance station, and simultaneously moving intermediate storage units between said entrance station and the selected cell to receive the vehicle so as to align selected empty cells in said intermediate storage units with said selected cell, and lowering any intermediate storage unit which has all its cells occupied by vehicles to its lowermost position below said exit station so that the vehicle may be driven over the top of such storage unit, driving a vehicle from said entrance station through said selected empty cells in said first storage unit and in said intermediate storage units, over the completely lowered storage units and into said selected cell aligned with said empty cells while maintaining all of said selected cells in alignment with each other and with said entrance station at the same time, moving said selected cell containing the vehicle vertically to align an empty cell in that same storage unit with the level of said entrance or exit station, subsequently retrieving a selected vehicle from said storage units by moving the storage units containing the selected vehicle vertically to align the cell containing the selected vehicle with the level of the exit station, while at the same time moving intermediate storage units containing empty cells between said exit station and the cell containing the selected vehicle to be retrieved, so as to align selected empty cells in said intermediate storage units with said cell containing the selected vehicle to be retrieved, lowering any intermediate storage unit which has all its cells occupied by vehicles to its lowermost position below said entrance station so that the selected vehicle to be retrieved may be driven over the top of such storage unit, and driving The selected vehicle out of the cell in which it is stored, over the completely lowered storage units and through the selected empty cells in said other intermediate storage units to said exit station while maintaining all of the selected empty cells in said intermediate storage units in alignment with each other and with said exit station at the same time. 